Archive for December 2nd, 2011

Today is likely the last day of debate in the Commons on Harper’s omnibus crime bill before it goes to the Senate where the Tory majority there will ram it through.

I put it to you that this is very scary business. The crime bill provides for more prisons, more mandatory minimum sentences, fewer pardons and parole. These are the very policies that have been in the United States, in places like Texas, and they have all failed. What happens when you put a first offender in prison with a hardened criminal? A good chance you will get two hardened criminals.

What is the need for this draconian bill? In the laseast survey taken on this matter, 93 per cent of Canadians of Canadians said they were satisfied with their personal safety from crime. Most police report that crime in the country is on the decline. So what is Harper about? I suggest he is appealing to the law and order crowd in his base.

As NDP justice critic Jack Harris put it: “Crime rates are down, people feel safe in their homes, and yet we’ve got a government spending all this time and effort to essentially make things worse. ”

This bill won’t make Canada a police state but it is a step in that direction.

If you want to make your views known to Harper and his justice minister before it is too late, check out this site. http:/www.leadnow.ca/keep-canada-safe.